DescriptionDrug Actions and Interactions describes the most commonly prescribed drugs in a concise, easy-to-read way. It is divided among 84 common disorders, the drugs commonly used, mechanism(s) of action, side effects and various drug interactions.

Purpose
The purpose of this book is to provide the reader with a rapid reference handbook that covers the most commonly prescribed drugs and interactions between different drugs other agents, including vitamin supplements, alcohol, foods, and herbal remedies.

Audience
This book is targeted at health care professionals, medical students, residents, and attending clinicians. However, the author's explanations in common language make it understandable to almost anyone, which broadens the audience even further.

Features
This book consists of 84 chapters, divided into 8 different parts. Each one refers to a different organ system's symptoms or diseases. It explains the disease in easy-to-understand language by reviewing the main drugs available for treating the disease, that drug's mechanism of action, adverse effects, interactions with other drugs (and other substances), and it provides alerts about drug combinations that should be avoided.

The author mentions the drug's generic name, followed by representative brand names. Molecular structures are shown to help explain mechanism of action. It does not mention doses or administration routes. At the back of the book, Appendix A shows major drugs currently in use and Appendix B is reserved for interactions between therapeutic groups of drugs. The most useful feature of this book is the problem-based structure, providing easy access to information.

AssessmentDrug Actions and Interactions would be a useful guide for any physician who prescribes medications and needs a rapid review of that drug's potential interactions, especially when prescribing to patients who are already taking other medications or supplements. This book can be useful as a rapid reference background overview but is not exhaustive. The reader can then further investigate the drug(s) of interest more deeply as needed.